By ANNIE GOELLER and MICHELE HOLTKAMP-FRYE, Daily Journal of Johnson County staff writers
A toll road through six suburban counties would be studied then brought back to Indiana legislators no sooner than next year under a proposal by an Indianapolis lawmaker.
If state Sen. Jean Breaux's changes are accepted, Indiana legislators would not be asked this year to give authority to the governor to build a toll road through Johnson County and lease it to a private company. Instead, lawmakers' approval would come after studies on the need for the beltway, a potential route, and economic and environmental impacts.
The timing of legislative approval has been an issue for local and state elected officials and the public. The initial proposal would not allow for further approval by lawmakers, and many have said they need information about the beltway's route, the type of jobs it would create and how local communities would be affected before giving the governor the go-ahead.
State lawmakers have been asked to approve a public-private partnership for the beltway, dubbed the Indiana Commerce Connector, and allow tolls to be collected. In exchange, tolls would not be collected on the new Interstate 69 extension from Indianapolis to Evansville. The money generated from the lease of the beltway would fund construction of I-69. The bill also includes the Illiana Expressway in northwest Indiana.
State Sen. Brent Waltz, R-Greenwood, opposes the beltway because of a lack of information and concerns about the effect on areas it crosses, such as southern Johnson County. He said he supports Breaux's amendment.
"We need more than just two to three months of awareness and notice," he said.
Support for the amendment came from Republican and Democratic legislators and the county's economic development group.
"There are very few of us willing to move this forward with full authority and give up legislative oversight on something not well thought out," said Sen. Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington.
The leader of Johnson County Development Corp., the organization charged with attracting and developing business in Johnson County, said this change is the answer the community and legislators have been waiting for.
"We need to look at ways to improve our infrastructure, but we really do believe that this thing has to get studied further," said Cheryl Morphew, executive director of the development corporation.
The development corporation's board agrees with the concept of the beltway, she said.
"But there is further study that has to take place. We are not getting any answers to questions as we attend some of these meetings with these (Indiana Department of Transportation) folks," Morphew said.
State Rep. Woody Burton, R-Greenwood, said that if the bill makes it to the House he would support conducting studies before legislative approval.
One local lawmaker said he doesn't see a point to more studies.
State Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, said the bill is to allow a private company to lease the road. Walker, who represents part of the county where the route could pass, doesn't see what more studies would prove.
Price of delay
Sen. Thomas Wyss, who proposed the bill, and a state transportation department official said the amendment would delay studies that need to be done.
The department isn't going to study the project without knowing it will be paid back by a private company. And a private company won't be interested in the road unless officials know it will be built, said Wyss, R-Fort Wayne.
Joe Gustin, deputy commissioner of public-private partnerships for the state department of transportation, wondered how long studies could be delayed.
Breaux's amendment would delay the connector at least a year and possibly more, Wyss said.
"That would help kill the Commerce Connector as a possibility in the future," he said.
The amendment would separate the Indiana Commerce Connector and the Illiana Expressway, which now are in the same bill. Legislators have said the Illiana Expressway has received more support than the central Indiana tollway.
Removing the connector from the bill would allow legislators to approve the Illiana Expressway, a highway in northwest Indiana, which has been studied longer, Breaux said.
"We shouldn't just push things forward without at least some consideration," said Breaux, D-Indianapolis.
Today, senators will discuss Breaux's proposed change and at least six others and decide which ones should be added to the bill before voting on the legislation Monday.
The governor's office had no response.
"Many amendments to bills are filed during the legislative process," said Jane Jankowski, spokeswoman for Gov. Mitch Daniels. "It's too early to tell what amendments the legislature may consider."
'An idea at this point'
State officials and some local leaders have said the beltway is just an idea that needs legislative approval before studies are conducted.
The studies will determine whether the project is appropriate, if it would relieve traffic congestion, its impact on the environment and local lifestyle, and whether any companies would pay the right amount to lease the road.
State officials have said the proposed tollway is an idea and nothing is final.
In a column published in several area newspapers in November, Daniels said the project was a concept.
Gary Abell, spokesman for the state transportation department, emphasized Wednesday the project is not final.
"It's an idea at this point," Abell said.
The mayor of Franklin thought that was the whole point of the initial legislation: to study the idea.
"I've said this before: I support the concept of this, but I have the very same questions everyone else has," Brenda Jones-Matthews said.
She isn't sure what input she can have on the roadway and notes that the general sketch of the route doesn't take it through Franklin, but she knows the beltway would impact the entire county.
Jones-Matthews wants to know how soon the study will be finished and who will be a part of the studies, such as legislators, residents and business people.
"Anything that is going to a study committee means it will kill it for this legislative session," she said.
If the right mix of people are involved and a deadline is set for reporting on findings, the amendment "might not be a bad idea," Jones-Matthews said.
Charles Canary, a county council member who has been vocal about the proposed beltway, said the amendment is exactly what he's wanted.
"That's what should have been done the first time. Now they're finally doing things the way they're supposed to be done," he said.
Other proposed changes
Breaux's proposed amendment is one of seven proposed changes that were submitted by legislators by Wednesday. Her first change takes the beltway out of the bill; she's still working on another amendment that would send the road to a study committee.
Sen. Bob Jackman, R-Milroy, has proposed three amendments that call for study of roads proposed in a 25-year transportation plan that the state revealed in 2003 and would prevent the road from interfering with school transportation routes or the ability of a fire department to respond to a blaze.
"These are issues that need to be studied and warrant some discussion," said Jackman, who also noted that he's been in discussions with the governor's office.
He is proposing changes based on what residents in his district have asked for. He represents parts of Shelby, Rush, Decatur, Franklin and Fayette counties.
Jackman's also concerned about the road bisecting school districts, township lines and fire districts.
No one understands where the Indiana Commerce Connector would be built, but the proposed legislation would allow the state to proceed with the study, Jackman said.
"These are things I think need to be included in the study," he said.
The third amendment would forbid construction of the road in Moral Township in the northwest corner of Shelby County.
"We protected Perry Township with I-69, so why not protect Moral Township with this," Jackman said.
He's referring to a bill the legislature approved last year that included language that would prevent the interstate from being built through Perry Township in Marion County.
Wyss said Jackman's amendment is unconstitutional because it takes power from the governor and gives it to legislators.